Fluid pressure tool slide control assembly



April 27, 1954 R, PERRY AL 7 2,676,572

FLUID PRESSURE TOOL SLIDE CONTROL ASSEMBLY Original Filed Aug. 10, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet l IN VEN TORS.

PEEEY RICHARD D. 8 20.5.5 H. BAUMGAEDNEE A7"TO EYS- FLUID PRESSURE TOOL SLIDE CONTROL ASSEMBLY 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Aug. 10, 1949 New WEE I H NH INVENT fil r h 151 N wm z; :1: NN QEW MON 5w N 5:: Q mi IIrII'lII' ffl 5 AT ORNE'YS.

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Patented Apr. 27, 1954 FLUID PRESSURE TOOL SLIDE CONTROL ASSEMBLY Richard D. Perry and Ross H. Baumgardner,

Elyria, Ohio, assignors to The Perry-Fay Company, Elyria, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Original application August '10, 1949, Serial No.

109,447, ,now Patent No. 2,605,751, dated August 5, 1952. Divided and this application June .19, 1952, Serial No. 294,508

'3 Claims.

Our invention relates to feed apparatus for machine tools and, particularly, to pneumatic feeding devices of the character disclosed in our copending application entitled Automatic Screw Machine, serial No. 734,714, filed June 23, 1948, now Patent No. 2,627,646. This application is a division of our copending application entitled "Fluid Pressure Tool Slide Control Assembly, Serial No. 109,447, filed August 10, 1949, now Patent No. 2,605,751.

In its preferred embodiment, the present invention comprises a feeding system'for the tool slides or turrets of automatic screw machines and the like. The system employs apneumatic cylinder for advanceand retraction of the tool slide .inlcom'bination with a hydraulic check to regulate the rate of advance during the cutting or turning operation. The tool is fed rapidly by the pneumatic.cylinderirom its rest position substantia'lly .into engagement with the work and is then fed slowly at a rate determined by the setting of ,a throttling valve which forms a part of the hydraudlic speed control. Upon the completion of the feed to a pre-set point, the pneuvmatic cylinder is reversed to retract the tqolat .high speed. The point in the stroke at which the hydraulic speed regulator becomes operative is adjustable, as well as the end point of the cutting stroke.

The invention disclosed herein difiers from the aforesaid prior application principally in two ways. One .is that the pneumatic and hydraulic cylinders are built into the framework of the machine beneath the tool slide, this resulting in a more compact and cleaner 1 arrangement. The

rtosreyerseand withdrawnponreachin'e the positive stop.

"It will be seen from the foregoing, and more fully from the detailed description herein, that the present invention represents a substantial improvement of the invention disclosed in the aforesaid application.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view, principally in horizontal section, of a tool slide assemblyin accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is an elevation view of the same, partly cut away, and

Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram of the pneumatic,

hydraulic, and electric circuits.

The invention is disclosed herein as a tool slide assembly per se, inasmuch'as the application of such slides to turning machines such as automatic screw machines is readily understood, and the illustration of parts of the machine other than the tool slide is not necessary to an understanding of the invention.

The invention is incorporated in a cylinder block ll formed with flanges l2 drilled as at 13 so that the assembly may be bolted to the bed or other fixed structure of the machine. The tool slide it, which may carry a cutting tool, a stop for the Work, or other instrumentality, is reciprocable over the upper surface of the block I l and is formed with a ,mortised undersurface 16 for engagement with'tenons on the upper surface of the block H of the usual dovetail form. The block is bored to form an outer cylindrical chamber l8 and an inner cylindrical chamber 19 in alignment therewith. The bore 1 8 forms a housa cylinder head '22 which may be brazed to the wall; The cylinder head abuts the shoulder 23 between the portions l8 and I9 of the bore and extends into theportion l9. The outer cylinder head 24 is formed with an annular groove 26 to receive the outer end of the cylinder wall and is retained in place by cap screws 21 received in tapped holes in the block.

The cylinder head 24 is formed with a central aperture for a tubular piston rod 23 and a stuffing box assembly comprising a gland 29, retained by ar-sc ews 3i e terin theihe and packing 3 The piston rod .28 cou les th qols 3 9 a p en 13. which ma persi o a centra d and outer disks 36 retaining cup packings -31 of leather or the like. The piston is retained in assembled relation against a shoulder 38 on the rod by the nut 39 tightened on the threaded inner end of the piston rod. The outer end of the piston rod is formed with a portion 4| of reduced diameter received in a bore 42 in a depending portion 43 of the tool slide, the rod having a shoulder abutting against the portion 43. The piston rod is threaded at its outer end to receive a nut 44 which clamps the portion 43 of the slide against the shoulder of the piston rod, the nut being formed with sockets 46 for a spanner wrench or the like. The piston is thus retained in fixed relation to the tool slide' and the'tool slide is moved for tool feed by the piston 33.

The preferred arrangement for supplying air to the cylinder 20 includes flexible hoses 4'1 and 48 fitted with hose ends of any suitable type indicated generally as 49 which are fitted into tapped inlet openings and 52, respectively, in the body. The radial bore 5I isin communication with a longitudinal bore 53 in the cylinder head 22 and in the block I I so that fluid may be introduced through it to the inner end of the cylinder 26. The bore 52 intersects a longitudinal bore 54 in the block, the outer end of which is tapped to receive a fitting 5 6. The cylinder head -24 is tapped for a right-angle fitting 41 which is coupled through a second right-angle fitting 53 and the union 56 to the bore 54 in the block II. It will be apparent, of course, that the hose 48 could, if desired, be connecteddirectly into the cylinder head; but the arrangement described is preferred since it disposes the hose 48 adjacent th hose 41 and remote from the outer end of the cylinder. The connection between the bore 54 and the cylinder head may be readily removed if desired for access to the cylinder.

The motion of the piston 33 and tool slide I4 is checked and controlled during the working part of the stroke by a hydraulic system including a piston and cylinder mounted in the chamber I9. This arrangement comprises a cylinder shell 6| threaded into a recess in the face of the cylinder head 22, leakage being prevented by an O-ring seal 62. A piston '63 is reciprocable in the cylinder 6i and is fitted with sealing rings 64. This piston is coupled by a lost-motion connection to a piston rod 65 which is coupled to the piston rod 28. The piston rod 65 includes an end portion of reduced diameter at the inner end of which is fitted a washer 66 against which the piston 63 abuts. The piston is slidable upon a sleeve 61 pressed on the outer end of the piston rod and abutting the washer 66. The piston is retained by a nut 68 and washer 69 and a compression spring 'Il received in a recess in the face of, the

piston.

The sleeve 61 is provided with splines, as indicated at '10, so that fluid may pass through the central bore of the piston. Under the action of the spring I I, the piston 63 and washer 66' act as a check valve. When the valve seats, the forward face of the piston engages the washer 66 so that the flow of fluid from the left-hand end of the cylinder I 9 to the right-hand end in Fig. 1 is prevented; however, when the rod 65 is drawn outwardly in the return stroke of the slide, the rod 65 moves relatively to the piston 63 and flow through the splines "I9 takes place so that a rapid return movement of the slide is effected. The passages in the interior of the piston may be sufficiently small to oppose fluid flow sufliciently to damp the return movement of the slide and prevent excessive speed of the return movement.

' annular groove 82 of the nut.

4 It will be apparent that, as an alternative to the check valve arrangement in the cylinder, an external check valve could be used, as illustrated in Fig. 3; however, greater precision is attained by the preferred construction shown in Fig. l. The outer end of the piston rod 65 is formed with a head 12 which is slidable in a longitudinal bore I3 of the tubular piston rod 28. The nut 39 is formed with a bore 14 which is large enough for sliding movement of the rod 65 therein, but small enough so that the nut will engage the flange I2 of the piston rod. Therefore, when the piston 33 moves to the right, the piston 63 is drawn with it when the nut 39 engages the flange 12. When the piston 33 moves inwardly, the rod 65 and piston 63 are not affected until the end of the rod 65 is engaged by plunger I6 movable axially within the rod 28. The rod I6 is formed with a threaded portion 11 which is fitted in a threaded portion 18 of the rod. The plunger I6 is adjusted longitudinally of the rod 28 by rotating it relatively to the rod, Which is accomplished by a knob 19 rotatably mounted on the periphery of the nut 44, being secured thereon by a set screw 8| received in an The knob I9 is pressed or otherwise nonrotatably mounted on a shaft 83 extending into the piston rod 23 and formed with a hexagonal or other noncircular portion 84 received in a mating noncircular opening in the plunger I6. Thus, rotation of the dial 'I'i advances and retracts the plunger I6 with respect to the rod 28 and likewise with respect to the tool slide I4. The dial I9 may be provided with appropriate micrometric graduation 81 if desired. A seal 88 may be fitted in an annular groove in the outer end of the shaft 28 to prevent leakage of air from the internal passage in the piston rod.

As will be apparent, if the piston 33 moves inwardly, it may do so without any resistance except from friction until the plunger 16 engages the head I2 of the check device, at which time the piston 63 of the check device is carried along with the piston 33. The movement of the piston 63 is utilized to force hydraulic fluid through a suitable adjustable orifice to determine the speed of the cutting operation. The connections for the hydraulic fluid include flexible hoses 9| and 92 fitted by appropriate hose end devices into radial bores 94 and 96 in the block I I. The bore 94 enters the side of the chamber I9 and is thus in direct communication with the inner face of the piston 63. The bore 96 is in communication with a radial bore 9! in the cylinder head 22 which communicates with the inner face of the piston 63 by way of a recess 98 in the head. 0- ring seals 99 fitted in the grooves in the head on either side of the bores 96, 91 preventleakage of fluid between the head and the wall of the chamber l9. The head 22 is fittedwith O-rings I3I for the rod 65 and a vent passage I32.

in the cylinder is reversed; but before this action can tak effect, air pressure in the outer end of the cylinder forces the tool slide against a positive stop, thus definitely fixing the extent The preferred structure for this purpose comprises a sensitive switch IBI mounted in a recess "12in the .body in any convenient manner, as by the customary expedient of screws passing throughthe body of the switch. The'switch IEiI is of a type, well known commercially, in which the action of the switch is effected by a very smallmovement of areciproeating plunger which extends from the body-of th switch and in the switch operates with an over-center or snap action. Such switches are available in which the operating travel of the plunger is very small and the switch will operate when the plunger is depressed to a certain extent, with very slight variation in the operating point. The plunger I03 of the switch is engaged by a plunger IE4 slidably mounted in a sleeve I05 which is threaded into a longitudinal bore in the front wall of the chamber I02. The sleeve I06 is provided with a hexagonal head I01 by which it may be adjusted longitudinally of the block I! and is fitted with a jam nut I98. The

bore in which the plunger I04 is slidable is provided with an annular enlargement at its outer end for an O-ring or other resilient ring I99 which bears against the head of the plunger to maintain the same slightly clear of the head I01 of the sleeve. The plunger is retained in the sleeve by a transverse pin or cotter key I I i The sleeve I66 is so adjusted with respect to the switch IilI that the switch is operated during th movement of the plunger from its illustrated position into engagement with the head I01 of the sleeve, and just before this engagement takes place. The plunger I64 is engaged by a spindle III! threaded in a sleeve H2 in the portion 43 of the tool slide. The spindle HE! is provided with a thimble I I3 with micrometric graduations II 4 to facilitate adjustment. A jam nut H6 is fitted on the threaded portion of the spindle so that it may be locked in position after the setup has been completed.

After the tool is set up in any suitable manner on the tool slide to give the approximate desired depth of cut, the spindle Iii] is adjusted so that the exact depth of cut desired is obtained when the spindle Ilil forces the head of the lunger IM against the sleeve I936. The knob I9 is then adjusted to bring the hydraulic check device into action just before the tool engages the work, and

the cutting speed is set by adjustment of the check device.

It is believed that the nature of a suitable pneumatic, hydraulic, and electric system will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing, and reference may be made to our above-mentioned Patent No. 2,627,646. However, an elementary schematic diagram of the system is included for those who may desire the same. By reference to this diagram, in which the physical assembly is greatly simplified and parts are given numbers corresponding to those in the detail drawings, the cylinders i9 and 20.

in the block II and the pistons 33 and 63 therein, the piston rod 28 coupled to the portion 43 of the tool slide, and the rod 65 of the hydraulic piston will be apparent. The hydraulic cylinder is coupled through the lines 9! and 92 to a throttle valve IZI and a valve I22 in parallel, the

check valve permitting free flow of fluid from the outer end of the cylinder IE to th inner end so that the piston iii. may move freely to the right in the diagram. The showing of the check valve outside the cylinder may be regarded as a schematic illustration of the construction shown in detail in'Fig. 1, in which the checkvalve'is ilow'therethrough and'directs the fluid through the "throttling valve which may be adjusted to regulate cutting speed. The air cylinder 261s fed through the lines 4! and 48 from a valve illustrated schematically in the 'figure as a slide valve 123 of'conventional type. Reciprocation of the valve plunger I24 directs air from an inlet line I26 into either of the lines 4I or 48 and exhausts air from the other cylinder line to atmosphere through one of the outlets I21. The valve plunger I24 may be shifted in any desired manner, as by means disclosed in our Patent No. 2,627,646, to supply air to the outer face of the piston 33 to move the tool into the work. As illustrated in the schematic, the valve is shifted to withdraw the tool slide by a solenoid I28 energized by the switch IilI (illustrated schematically herein) which is closed by the actuator I II). The details of these devices in the electric, pneumatic, and hydraulic circuits are immaterial to an understanding of the invention.

Although the foregoing description is necessarily of a detailed character, in order that the invention may be completely set forth, it is to be understood that the specific terminology is not intended to be restrictive or confining and that various rearrangements of parts and modifications of detail may be resorted to without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention as herein claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. A feed control mechanism for lathe slides comprising a reversible hydraulic motor for advancing and retracting the slide, said motor having a piston and rod assembly affixed to the slide, said rod being hollow and threaded internally at one end thereof, a dash pot for regulating the rate of the advance of the slide, said dash pot having a rod extending into the hollow portion of the piston rod, a sleeve internal of said piston rod and threadably engaged with the threaded portion of said piston rod, the end of said sleeve engaging said dash pot rod as said slide moves toward the work, and dial means manually controllable external of said slide for positioning aid sleeve relative to the slide to determine the point in the advance of the slide at which the dash pot regulates the speed of travel.

2. A feed control mechanism for lathe slides comprising a reversible hydraulic motor for advancing and retracting the slide, said motor having a piston and rod assembly afiixed to the slide, said rod being hollow and threaded internally at one end thereof, a dash pot coaxial with said motor for regulating the rate of the advance of the slide, said dash not having a rod extending into the hollow portion of the piston rod, a sleeve internal of said piston rod and threadably engaged with the threaded portion of said piston rod, the end of said sleeve engaging said dash pot rod as said slide moves toward the work, and dial means manually controllable external of said slide for positioning said sleeve relative to the slide to determine the point in the advance of the slide at which the dash pot regulates the speed of travel.

3. A feed control mechanism for lathe slides comprising a reversible hydraulic motor for advancing and retracting the slide, said motor having a piston and rod assembly affixed to the slide, said rod being hollow and threaded internally at one end thereof, a dash pot coaxial with said motor for regulating the rate of the advance of the slide, said dash pot having a rod extending into the hollow portion of the piston rod, a, sleeve internal of said piston rod and threadably engaged with the threaded portion of said piston red, the end of said sleeve engaging said dash pot rod as said slide moves toward the work, a splined shaft in engagement with said sleeve, and a dial on said shaft external of said slide for rotating and posi- 10 tioning said sleeve to determine the point in the 8 advance of the slide at which the dash pot regulates the speed of travel.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,998,873 Kingsbury Apr. 23, 1935 2,563,918 Casella et a1 Aug. 14, 1951 2,624,319 Heyer Jan. 6, 1953 

